HISTORY

The ancient capital of the Bhanja rules, Khiching lies about 205 Km away from Balasore and 150 km from Baripada. Scores of temples dominate the place, some of which are still in active worship. The predominant deity of Khiching is Kichakeswari, the most scared Goddess of the Mayurbhanj chiefs. The temple dedicated to her is built entirely of chlorite slabs and unique of it kind in India. The sculptures are beautiful. A small museum here boasts of highly important historical specimens of sculpture and art.

Baripada is located in the Indian state of Odisha and this town is very famous among tourists for being the commercial hub of the entire Mayurbhnaj district. Baripada is mainly a natural haven, and there are many scenic locations that you can visit in this region. There are not many monuments or places of interest in Baripada, and adventure buffs and lovers of natural tourism will embrace this quaint little town.

A popular town in Orissa, Baripada with its lush greenery, dense forests and many ancient temples, is a captivating place. The headquarters of the Mayurbhanj district, Baripada is situated along the Burhabalang River, at the foothills of the Simlipal mountain range.

Baripada was the capital of the Bhanja dynasty in the 15th century and the ruins of the temples and palaces built then can be found at Haripur about 16 km southeast of Baripada. Among the ruins, the Rasikaraya temple and the Durbar hall of the Bhanja kings are the most significant and visited by tourists. The Collectorate Building and the Maharaja Purnachandra College in Baripada are also great examples of the Bhanja architecture.

The Jagannath Temple, Kichakeshwari and Ambica Temple in Baripada are considered important pilgrimage centres and many devotees flock here year after year. The sculptures and carvings in these temples are of historical significance and provide a visual treat to visitors.

Similar to the Rathyatra Festival held in Puri, Baripada also hosts an annual rathyatra. One of the special features of this festival is that the chariot of Subhadra, the female deity, is pulled forward only by women folk. This is an age old tradition in Baripada and is in practice even today.

Places of interest in Baripada include the Simlipal national park and tiger reserve, and the Barehipani and Jordan waterfalls. Baripada has also made a name for the exquisite handloom articles available here. Tourists can shop for the popular handloom products of Chandanpur and stone carvings of Khiching in Baripada.

Baripada is also recognised globally for the origin of Chhau, an Indian tribal martial dance. Based on the Ramayana and Mahabharata epic, this dance form shows the triumph of good over evil.

With the North Orissa University situated in Baripada, this town is also considered an important educational hub. Students from Orissa and neighbouring states study various technical courses in this university. Other popular educational institutions in Baripada include the Maharaja Purna Chandra College and the MPC Autonomous College.

Baripada has an excellent road network and is well connected to Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack and Kolkata. Baripad was also the first place to get a railway line in Odisha. H.H. Maharaja Krushna Chandra Bhanjdeo, the then ruler of Mayurbhanj is credited with connecting Baripada by a narrow gauge rail network to the Howrah-Chennai railway corridor.